Varibox MD Jan Naude speaks to seasoned technical journalist and MechChem editor Peter Middleton about Varibox’s range of continuously variable transmission (CVT) inventions and the company’s vision of becoming a disruptive entity in the global CVT market.

The global demand for continuously variable transmissions(CVTs) in the passenger vehicle sector is enjoying an unprecedented growth rate intensifying competition to develop the most efficient CVTs among auto innovators. In this article, we take a look at how two CVT solutions from Dana and Varibox CVT Technologies fare against each other in terms of mechanical efficiency and cost effectiveness.

This month we examine current trends in the global CVT industry through the evaluation of CVTs at various stages of production by established manufacturers Dana, Torotrak, Bosch, LUK and German-based engineering establishment GIF-E.

Current commercial CVT's in the passenger vehicle market face criticism for being laden with inherent deficiencies like hydraulic control losses, friction drive losses, high manufacturing costs, high contact stresses requiring special materials, as well as being heavy, which results in expensive and heavy CVT solutions which are not sufficiently viable in small vehicles below 50 kW. For this reason, Varibox CVT Technologies Pty (Ltd) developed the RADIALcvt, a multi-parallel power path type of CVT that consists of only one steel-on-steel lubricated friction drive interface in each power path.

SA based Intellectual Property firm optimistic following ISA’s acknowledgement of patent novelty. In a written opinion accompanying the ISA (International Search Authority) search report, the PCT examiner could not find any existing prior art, similar to the unique configuration used in the RADIALcvt.  

Varibox CVT Technologies (Pty) Ltd is inviting industry players and other interested parties to become investment partners in the development and commercialisation of its breakthrough CVT inventions.